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Far South Coast NSW

Three stretches of New South Wales coast between Sydney and the Victorian border: Ulladulla and Mollymook at the northern gateway, the Eurobodalla Coast's estuaries and Montague Island wildlife, and the Sapphire Coast's oyster lakes, working harbour at Eden and long whale season. It is a holiday coast rather than a surf resort, so the useful facts here are about getting around, patrolled beaches and what is open.

Illustrated map of the Far South Coast of New South Wales, in the style of an antique nautical chart. ULLADULLA, MOLLYMOOK &
MILTON EUROBODALLA COAST SAPPHIRE COAST
Pick a hub to jump to its section — or scroll, the same content is all below.
Researched

This zone sheet is researched and being verified. Every listing below is a real local business we found and vetted on paper — the ground-truthing pass is underway. Prices, hours, and details are strong starting points, not gospel until this page wears the Ground-Truthed badge.

Straight talk: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we'd use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Those commissions are what keep this site running and fund the next trip.

Some vacation-rental search links on this page (marked "Search Vrbo rentals," "Search Booking.com stays," or "Search Agoda stays") are affiliate links. Every vendor link below is still a plain courtesy link. As more partnerships come online, more links may earn us a commission; the promise above holds either way.

Real, specific safety context: Many beaches on this coast are unpatrolled for much of the year. Lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers cover selected beaches daily from mid-December, and volunteer clubs patrol some beaches on weekends and public holidays from October to April, so swim only between the flags where they are set up and check Beachsafe (beachsafe.org.au) for the day. Rips are the main hazard: look for deeper, darker water or fewer breaking waves, stay calm, float, raise an arm and swim parallel to the beach. NSW SharkSmart says sharks can be present at any time of year, so check the SharkSmart app before you go. Bluebottles are common; rinse with seawater and soak the sting in hot water for 20 minutes.

Logistics

Getting There

By road. Ulladulla is about 160 km and two hours south of Sydney. Batemans Bay is roughly 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney and under 2 hours from Canberra via the Kings Highway. The Sapphire Coast is about 3 hours from Canberra via Cooma and 6 to 7 hours from Sydney or Melbourne. Official pages give slightly different drive times, so treat all of these as approximate.

By air. Moruya Airport (Eurobodalla) and Merimbula Airport (Sapphire Coast) are both small regional airports served by Regional Express, and Qantas is also listed at Merimbula; confirm current routes on rex.com.au. Canberra Airport is the usual larger gateway for both coasts, and the nearest airports for the Ulladulla end are Sydney, Canberra, Illawarra (Shellharbour) and Moruya.

Coach and train. Murrays runs Canberra to Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay; Premier Motor Service runs the Melbourne to Sydney coast route; Rixons links Milton and Ulladulla to Batemans Bay, Narooma and Canberra; V/Line runs a rail-and-coach service between Melbourne and Batemans Bay; and Sapphire Coast Bus Lines serves Merimbula, Bega, Tathra, Pambula, Tura Beach and Eden. Trains from Sydney reach Bomaderry (Nowra) several times a day. Check each operator for current timetables.

Documents: tourists can drive in NSW on a current overseas licence for up to six months, must carry it, and need an English translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in English. Check Australian visa requirements for your passport before you travel.

Logistics

Ground Transport

  • Driving is on the left. Take a break every two hours on the long drives in, and check Live Traffic NSW (livetraffic.com, or call 132 701) for road conditions.
  • A car is the practical choice. Sapphire Coast Tourism says public transport is limited and recommends a hire car or self-drive. Towns are 15 to 45 minutes apart.
  • Eurobodalla: taxis operate from Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma and serve Moruya Airport, Uber is available in Batemans Bay and Narooma, and Thrifty and Hertz have offices in Batemans Bay (Hertz also at Moruya Airport). Local buses link Batemans Bay and Moruya, and Narooma, Kianga and Dalmeny. A 21 km shared path links Narooma and Dalmeny, and bikes and e-bikes can be hired in Narooma.
  • Sapphire Coast: Merimbula Airport has a cafe, parking, car rental and taxis, and Merimbula and Eden each have local taxis. One daily bus runs Bega to Bermagui via Quaama and Cobargo. Visitor centres are in Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Bega and Cobargo.
  • Ulladulla end: the Shoalhaven Visitors Centre is in the Civic Centre on the Princes Highway in Ulladulla (Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9.30 am to 12 pm; confirm hours before you go).
  • Park roads: some national park roads and fire trails are restricted, and the closures change often, so check the park's alerts page before heading in (see Good to Know).
Logistics

When to Go & What to Pack

Sapphire Coast Tourism sums up the seasons as warm beach days and holiday events in summer, mild weather for bushwalking and food festivals in autumn, quiet escapes and fishing in winter, and whale watching and wildflowers in spring. The busiest stretch is mid-December to the end of January.

MonthMoruya Heads max / min (°C)Moruya Heads rain (mm)Merimbula max / min (°C)Merimbula rain (mm)
Jan23.9 / 16.195.924.9 / 15.672.0
Feb24.0 / 16.394.324.8 / 15.384.6
Mar23.3 / 15.1109.623.7 / 13.892.5
Apr21.6 / 12.385.321.7 / 11.061.1
May19.2 / 9.482.019.3 / 7.758.7
Jun16.8 / 7.285.916.9 / 5.661.8
Jul16.3 / 5.955.716.7 / 4.446.9
Aug17.2 / 6.654.717.5 / 4.941.5
Sep18.8 / 8.558.319.5 / 6.938.8
Oct20.2 / 10.877.920.8 / 9.261.4
Nov21.4 / 12.977.821.8 / 11.977.8
Dec22.8 / 14.775.623.4 / 13.870.1
Year20.5 / 11.3955.020.9 / 10.0772.1

Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology stations at Moruya Heads Pilot Station and Merimbula Airport. Ulladulla's station averages 20.7 / 13.4 °C and 1,213 mm of rain a year, the wettest of the three.

January and February are the warmest months, winter days run around 16 to 17°C with July nights near 4 to 6°C, and February to March is the wettest stretch at both stations. Afternoon winds are strongest from October to January and lightest in June.

Whales. Humpbacks pass north from about May or June to August and south from late August to early November, with numbers peaking in September and October. Official pages differ by a few weeks at either end of the season. Cruises leave from Eden, Merimbula and Bermagui, and bookings are highly recommended in peak periods. Southern right whales are usually first to arrive in early winter, and orcas are most likely in winter.

Seals and penguins. Barunguba Montague Island holds NSW's largest colony of Australian and New Zealand fur seals and one of Australia's largest little penguin breeding sites. The evening penguin tour is usually offered only in summer, and seals are on the rocks from late winter to early December.

Oysters. The Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail runs from Wonboyn in the south to Wapengo in the north and is built around the native Sydney rock oyster. Narooma's Oyster Festival is usually held in autumn at Forsters Bay.

What to pack: layers all year, sun protection, walking shoes, a camera, and drinks and a snack for boat tours (Montague Island tours also suggest warm clothing). Water temperature varies through the year, so check local advice for wetsuit thickness before a surf or snorkel.

Logistics

Good to Know

Patrolled Beaches

Eurobodalla: professional lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers cover eight popular beaches daily from mid-December to the end of January (Narooma, Dalmeny, Tuross Head, Moruya South Head, Moruya North, Broulee, Malua Bay and Surf Beach at Batemans Bay), and volunteer clubs patrol selected beaches on weekends and public holidays from October to April. Sapphire Coast: Bega Valley Shire Council's lifeguard program starts on 18 December 2026 at eight locations across Bermagui, Tathra, Pambula, Eden, Wallaga Lake and Merimbula, with club patrols on weekends and public holidays at the weekday-only locations. Ulladulla end: Mollymook's surf patrol season runs 26 September 2026 to 25 April 2027, with daily summer patrols at both ends of the beach. Beachsafe shows which beach is patrolled today.

Sharks & Nets

NSW SharkSmart says white, tiger and bull sharks occur year-round along the NSW coast, with white sharks moving north in late autumn and south in late spring. Check the SharkSmart app, look for baitfish and diving birds, and avoid areas where people are fishing. At Narooma a shark net is generally in place from September to May; the council says nets reduce but do not remove the risk and points to a sheltered, rock-walled swimming area across Wagonga Inlet as a more enclosed option.

Bushfire Season

The statutory Bush Fire Danger Period runs from 1 October to 31 March, and a fire permit is needed to light a fire in the open. Fire danger ratings and Total Fire Bans are declared each afternoon for the next day on the RFS site. National parks can close at short notice for fire danger or weather.

Park Closures

As of 27 October 2026, NSW National Parks lists these notices; check each park's alerts page before you set out.

  • Barunguba Montague Island: both lighthouse keepers' cottages are closed to 1 December 2026 under an H5 bird flu alert, and the reserve is closed every August.
  • Beowa National Park (Green Cape area): closed from 25 to 31 October 2026 for aerial shooting, and the Green Cape lightstation keepers' cottages and Telegraph Station accommodation are closed to 31 December 2026. The Green Cape carpark, lookout and walking tracks stay open. Entry is charged per vehicle in the areas south of Eden.
  • Gulaga, Mimosa Rocks and Bournda: some campgrounds and trails are closed for upgrades or roadworks, including Middle Beach campground at Mimosa Rocks and Hobart Beach campground at Bournda.
  • Deua and Eurobodalla National Parks: a river crossing that needs extreme caution, a trailer ban on several trails, and road repairs.
  • 1080 baiting: ongoing ground baiting for wild dogs and foxes across many parks to 31 December 2026 (some programs end on 21 or 22 December), so keep pets away from baiting locations.

Montague Island

Barunguba Montague Island, about 9 km off Narooma and roughly a 20-minute boat ride, can only be visited with one of the contracted commercial tour operators, and the minimum age is 5. Tours run daily depending on numbers and sea conditions, with morning and afternoon departures and a summer evening penguin tour, from around $140 per adult (indicative). Boarding involves a ladder and stairs, and the lighthouse climb is steep.

Walks

Beowa's Light to Light walk is a multi-day coastal hike from Boyds Tower to Green Cape Lightstation, the Bingi Dreaming track runs about 14 km south from Congo to Tuross Head, and the Gulaga mountain walk is 14 km return and challenging, starting behind Pam's Store at Tilba Tilba.

Beach Access

Eurobodalla Council places mobility mats on seven patrolled beaches in the summer school holidays and has free beach wheelchairs at six locations.

The Code Every Surfer Needs To Know

Respecting the Locals

  • Gulaga and other significant places: Gulaga is a mountain the local Yuin people consider sacred, and its national park was returned to its traditional owners in 2006 and is jointly administered by the Yuin and NSW National Parks. Visit Eurobodalla asks visitors to be respectful, and Sapphire Coast Tourism's one line of protocol for the area's cultural places is to pay your respect to the rocks, soil and plants.
  • Official names: use the current names. Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve, Gulaga National Park, and Beowa National Park (renamed in 2022 from Ben Boyd National Park in consultation with local Aboriginal custodians).
  • Learn from local custodians: Aboriginal-owned and Yuin-led experiences named by the regional tourism bodies include South Coast Seaweed, Muladha Gumara, Nar-OO-ma Aboriginal Cultural Tours at Wagonga Inlet, Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services, Yandama on Country, Bundian Way Cultural Experiences and cultural kayaking on the Pambula River. Confirm each operator's availability directly.
  • Wildlife and fire: report sick or dead wild birds under the current bird flu alert, obey Total Fire Ban rules, and keep pets away from 1080 baiting locations.

Whose country this is. This coast is Yuin Country. Eurobodalla Shire Council says the Yuin Nation are the traditional custodians of the land it covers, and Sapphire Coast Tourism calls the region the Country of the Yuin-Monaro Nations. No Yuin organisation publishes a single fixed visitor acknowledgement, so we quote published wordings as written. Eurobodalla Shire Council: “We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and water; the people of Yuin Country.” The Eden Killer Whale Museum: “The Eden Killer Whale Museum respects and acknowledges the Yuin Nation as the First People and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.” Shoalhaven City Council, for the Ulladulla end: “Shoalhaven City Council recognises the First Peoples of the Shoalhaven and their ongoing connection to culture and country.”

The Zone — Hub 1 of 3

Eurobodalla Coast

The Eurobodalla Coast runs from Batemans Bay on the Clyde River south to Narooma on Wagonga Inlet, with Broulee, Moruya, Tuross Head and Dalmeny in between. It is a long-time Canberra and Sydney holiday coast of estuaries, oyster leases, national park beaches and small-town cafes, with a gentle, family feel. Narooma is the base for Montague Island wildlife tours and the coastal bike paths, and Tilba, just south, is a heritage village with farm stays. Moruya's small regional airport is about 20 minutes from Batemans Bay, Canberra is roughly 2.5 hours away and Sydney about 4.5. You will want a car, because the towns sit 15 to 45 minutes apart.

Surf Schools

  • Surf the BayMid-range47 Coronation Dr, BrouleeMobile surf school run by local teachers, with surf and stand-up paddle coaching, hire and online booking. surfthebay.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Broulee Surf SchoolMid-rangeBroulee, Batemans Bay regionLong-running local school, operating since 1996, teaching beginners at Broulee. brouleesurfschool.com.au · Map

Surf Guides & Tours

  • Narooma ChartersMid-rangeNarooma Town WharfWhale watching (September to mid-November), Montague Island tours, seal snorkelling and fishing charters. naroomacharters.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Montague Island AdventuresMid-rangeNaroomaSmall-boat wildlife and Montague Island trips, also trading as Charter Fish Narooma. montagueislandadventures.com.au · Facebook · Map
  • Southbound EscapesMid-range45 Princes Hwy, NaroomaE-bike and mountain-bike hire, bike shuttles, guided e-bike and local-produce tours and airport transfers; YouTube also linked. southboundescapes.com · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • The Kite BusMid-rangeBatemans Bay regionKitesurfing school and equipment hire teaching from South Durras to Broulee. thekitebus.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Gulaga GoldMid-rangeDignams CreekTruffle farm with seasonal hunts and tastings; truffle season is in the cooler months. gulagagold.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Underwater SafarisMid-rangeApex Park Boat Ramp, Centenary Dr, North NaroomaSnorkel with seals, scuba courses and daily dives, seasonal whale watching and a kids' snorkel program. underwatersafaris.com.au · Instagram · Map

Surf Shops, Board Rentals & Ding Repair

  • Offshore SurfMid-rangeBroulee; 66 Vulcan St, Moruya; 110 Wagonga St, NaroomaLocal three-store surf shop with surfboard and stand-up paddle hire (also listed as Broulee Board Hire). offshoresurf.com.au · Facebook · Map
  • Sandy SoulsBudgetDalmeny Shopping Village, 7/1 Noble Pde, DalmenyDalmeny surf shop and espresso bar selling coastal clothing, beach gear, gifts and ice cream, open from 7 am. sandysouls.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

  • The IslaBudget222 Beach Rd, BatehavenRetro-styled boutique motel with a pool, a short walk from Batehaven beach. theisla.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Amooran Oceanside Hotel & ApartmentsMid-range30 Montague St, NaroomaOcean-side rooms and apartments close to Narooma's main beach. amooran.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Narooma Palms Holiday ApartmentsMid-rangeNaroomaHoliday units a short walk from central Narooma. naroomapalms.com.au · Facebook · Map
  • Black Bream Point Holiday CabinsMid-range497 Riverview Rd, NaroomaWaterfront cottages with a private jetty, boat ramp and mooring on Wagonga Inlet. blackbreampoint.com.au · Map
  • Tilba Lake HouseMid-range64 Sunnyside Rd, Central TilbaAdults-only boutique stay with an apartment, two tiny homes and a country lodge room; sauna and firepit packs. tilbalakehouse.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Mountain View FarmMid-range11 Mount Dromedary Trail, Tilba TilbaFarm stay with self-contained cottages, an accessible studio, glamping tents and a vintage caravan. mountainviewfarm.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Mystery Bay CottagesMid-rangeMystery Bay, near NaroomaCottages and glamping tents on a bush property near Mystery Bay. mysterybaycottages.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • The Oaks RanchUpper340 Old Mossy Point Rd, Mossy PointSuites, a restaurant and a nine-hole golf course on 300 acres between the coast and the Tomaga River. oaksranch.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Moruya MotelBudget2474 Princes Hwy, MoruyaRural motel on farmland just outside Moruya, aimed at mountain-bikers and road-trippers. moruyamotel.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map

Camping, Long-Term & Alternative Stays

Where to Eat

Car & Scooter Rentals

No independent car and scooter rental business could be confirmed in Eurobodalla Coast at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Massage & Wellness

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Beyond the Surf

Errands & Services

No independent errands and services business could be confirmed in Eurobodalla Coast at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Medical / Practicalities

  • Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care ClinicBudgetBatemans Bay Hospital, 7 Pacific St, Batemans BayUrgent care clinic, open 7 days (6 am to midnight at time of reading; confirm hours). batemansbayurgentcareclinic.com.au · Map
  • Queen Street Medical CentreBudget45-49 Queen St, Moruya; 33 Clarke St, BrouleeGeneral practice with Moruya and Broulee surgeries. queenstreetmedical.com.au · Map
  • Narooma Medical and Specialist CentreBudgetShop 12 and 12A, 185 Princes Hwy, NaroomaGeneral practice in central Narooma. naroomamedicalcentre.com.au · Map
  • The Broulee PharmacyBudget4/77 Coronation Dr, BrouleeIndependent, locally owned pharmacy (since 2007), open Monday to Saturday. brouleepharmacy.com.au · Map
  • Surf Beach HealthSave PharmacyBudgetUnit 1/640 Beach Rd, Surf BeachNeighbourhood pharmacy open Monday to Saturday. surfbeachpharmacy.com.au · Map
The Zone — Hub 2 of 3

Sapphire Coast

The Sapphire Coast is the far south-east corner of New South Wales: small coastal towns between Bermagui and Eden, oyster lakes, long beaches and a working harbour at Eden. It is known for whale season (roughly September to November), the oyster trail and a relaxed holiday feel. Merimbula is the main service town and has the regional airport with flights to Sydney and Melbourne; Tathra and Bermagui are smaller and more local, and Pambula is a village of bakeries and farm shops. Canberra is about 3.5 hours by road and Sydney 6.5 to 7. A car is strongly recommended, because towns are 20 to 40 minutes apart and public transport is limited.

Surf Schools

  • Coastlife AdventuresMid-range483 Tathra Rd, KalaruAccredited local school running group and private coaching, SurfGroms, stand-up paddle and kayak tours. coastlife.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map
  • Camel Rock Surf SchoolMid-rangeBermaguiGroup, private, women's and kids' coaching, beginner retreats and board hire; acknowledges Yuin custodians. camelrocksurfschool.com.au · Instagram · Facebook · Map

Surf Guides & Tours

Surf Shops, Board Rentals & Ding Repair

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Camping, Long-Term & Alternative Stays

Where to Eat

Car & Scooter Rentals

No independent car and scooter rental business could be confirmed in Sapphire Coast at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Massage & Wellness

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Beyond the Surf

  • Eden Killer Whale MuseumBudget184 Imlay St, EdenMuseum telling the story of Old Tom and Eden's whaling history; acknowledges Yuin custodians. killerwhalemuseum.com.au · Map

Errands & Services

No independent errands and services business could be confirmed in Sapphire Coast at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Medical / Practicalities

  • Main Street Medical Centre MerimbulaBudgetSuite 6, 93 Main St, MerimbulaGeneral practice, part of the Family Doctor network (flag: small group). familydoctor.com.au · Map
  • Sapphire Coast Medical PracticeBudget78 Bega St, TathraGeneral practice in Tathra; was not accepting new patients at time of reading, so ring first. scmp.com.au · Map
  • Dodd Family Capital Chemist MerimbulaBudget32 Market St, MerimbulaFamily-run pharmacy open seven days. merimbulapharmacy.com.au · Map
  • Sapphire Coast and Snowy Mountains PhysiotherapyMid-rangeMerimbula and Eden clinicsPhysiotherapy group with Merimbula and Eden clinics. sapphirecoastphysio.com · Instagram · Facebook · Map
The Zone — Hub 3 of 3

Ulladulla, Mollymook & Milton

The northern gateway to the zone, about three hours south of Sydney: Ulladulla's working harbour, Mollymook's long beach and the village of Milton just inland. This is the thinnest hub in the zone. It has a surf school, a surf shop, a custom shaper and a vegetarian cafe we could confirm, and little else listed yet, so book stays and meals ahead and ask locally for anything not listed here.

Surf Schools

Surf Guides & Tours

No independent surf guides and tours business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Surf Shops, Board Rentals & Ding Repair

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

No independent stays business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Camping, Long-Term & Alternative Stays

No independent camping and alternative stays business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Where to Eat

Car & Scooter Rentals

No independent car and scooter rental business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Massage & Wellness

No independent massage and wellness business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Surf Photographers & Videographers

No independent surf photographers and videographers business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Beyond the Surf

No independent beyond-the-surf activities business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Errands & Services

No independent errands and services business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

Medical / Practicalities

No independent medical and practicalities business could be confirmed in Ulladulla, Mollymook and Milton at the moment, so ask at your accommodation or check locally on arrival.

The signature list

Local Secrets

Eight real reasons this coast rewards the curious, from the whales' passing to a village that still looks like the 1800s.

  1. Muriyira, the whales' passing Each winter and spring

    Visit Eurobodalla describes Muriyira as the annual migration of whales, an event significant to the Walbunja people of the Yuin Nation. The whale is a family totem and the passing whales are linked to a songline. The page recommends watching the southern migration from a well-positioned headland, with charters and kayak tours available to get closer.

  2. An island nine kilometres out Barunguba Montague Island

    About 9 km off Narooma, the island is home to NSW's largest colony of Australian and New Zealand fur seals and one of Australia's largest little penguin breeding sites. A National Parks guide meets every tour on the island, and the two lighthouse keepers' cottages are normally available for overnight stays (closed to 1 November 2026 under the bird flu alert).

  3. Gulaga, the Mother Mountain Handed back in 2006

    Visit Eurobodalla recounts a local Indigenous story in which Gulaga's youngest son Najanuga stayed with his mother while his brother Barunguba went out to sea and never came home. The national park was returned to its traditional owners in 2006.

  4. Central Tilba, a village kept intact National Trust classified

    Described as a living snapshot of 19th century Australia, with weatherboard buildings still largely intact, about 20 km south of Narooma. The ABC Cheese Factory at the bottom of the main street continues a dairy tradition that began in 1891.

  5. Old Tom and the Eden Killer Whale Museum 184 Imlay Street, Eden

    The museum tells the story of the last of the Twofold Bay killer whales, and a whale siren sounds to alert visitors to sightings in Twofold Bay. It is open Monday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with adults $15 and children (5 to 15) $5 as published; confirm hours and fees before you go.

  6. An oyster trail of five estuaries Wonboyn to Wapengo

    The Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail names five key estuaries (Wonboyn Lake, Pambula Lake, Merimbula Lake, Nelson Lagoon and Wapengo Lake) and lets visitors taste freshly shucked oysters at grower gates. In Narooma, the timber boatsheds beside the bridge at Forsters Bay sell fresh local oysters and will shuck them on the spot.

  7. Beowa National Park and the Light to Light walk More than 50 Aboriginal sites

    More than 50 Aboriginal sites have been recorded in the park, and the multi-day Light to Light walk runs between Boyds Tower and Green Cape Lightstation. A self-drive Killer Whale Trail also runs around Eden and the park. Check Good to Know for current closures.

  8. Rocks older than the dinosaurs A path along the water

    Narooma's Glasshouse Rocks are estimated to be between 510 and 440 million years old. The 21 km shared path from Narooma to Dalmeny follows the inlet, and seals rest on the breakwalls at the inlet entrance.

Logistics FAQ

Questions People Actually Ask.

Do I need a car?

Yes, in practice. Sapphire Coast Tourism says public transport is limited and recommends a hire car or self-drive. Eurobodalla has taxis in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma, Uber in Batemans Bay and Narooma, and coach services along the coast.

Which airport is closest?

Moruya Airport serves the Eurobodalla Coast and Merimbula Airport serves the Sapphire Coast. Both are served by Regional Express, and Qantas is also listed at Merimbula. Canberra Airport is the nearest large gateway for both.

How long is the drive from Sydney or Canberra?

About 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney and under 2 hours from Canberra to Batemans Bay. The Sapphire Coast is about 3 hours from Canberra and 6 to 7 hours from Sydney or Melbourne. Ulladulla is about 2 hours from Sydney.

When is the best time to go?

Sapphire Coast Tourism promotes spring for whales and wildflowers and calls the winter days among its favourites. Bureau of Meteorology averages show January and February as the warmest months and winter days around 16 to 17 degrees Celsius.

When can I see whales?

Humpbacks pass north from about May or June to August and south from late August to early November, with numbers peaking in September and October. Official pages differ by a few weeks at the start and end of the season.

Are the beaches patrolled?

In summer, yes, at selected beaches. Eurobodalla patrols eight beaches daily from mid-December to the end of January and some on weekends and public holidays from October to April. Bega Valley has eight lifeguard locations from 18 December 2026 to early February 2027, and Mollymook's surf patrol season runs 26 September 2026 to 25 April 2027. Check Beachsafe for the day.

Are there sharks?

Sharks occur along the NSW coast year-round, so use common-sense precautions and check the SharkSmart app before you go.

Can I visit Montague Island?

Yes, with a licensed tour operator. There is a minimum age of 5, the reserve is closed during August, and the island cottages are closed to 1 November 2026 under a bird flu alert.

What about bushfire season and park closures?

The Bush Fire Danger Period runs 1 October to 31 March. Check fire danger ratings and each park's alerts page before heading out, because parks can close at short notice for fire danger or weather.

The fine print

Disclosure & How This Page Works.

Straight talk: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we'd use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Those commissions are what keep this site running and fund the next trip.

Today, the "Search Vrbo rentals," "Search Booking.com stays," and "Search Agoda stays" links on this page are affiliate links — every vendor listing link is still a plain courtesy link. As partnerships with these local businesses come online, more links (and discount codes, where Secrets of Surf Travel benefits from their use) may earn us a commission, and this page will keep saying so plainly. Coverage is never for sale: nobody on this page paid to be here, and nobody can.

Every listing was researched in 2026 and is being verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change — treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.